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Hi I'm Richard

I am retired. I enjoy gardening and family history. I am a Father, a Grand Father and a Great Grand Father. And, I'm a Mormon.

About Me

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I enjoy gardening. There is nothing better than fresh vegetables from your own garden. Each year we look forward to harvesting and enjoying large, red, vine ripened tomatoes from our garden. My wife tends the flowers and I tend the vegetables. As I get older, we are doing more with container and raised bed gardens as they produce a lot have less maintenance and are easier to get to. We grow tomatoes, peppers, carrots, beets, swisschard, cucumbers, beans, garlic, onions and many herbs. We also have four varieties of grapes.
I love to do family history - to learn about my ancestors, their stories, the challenges that they met and overcame. This strengthens me and helps me with my challenges. I like to tell their stories to our children, grand children and great grand children. I spend a lot of time with my own family history and helping others with theirs. I also enjoy Indexing which helps others find their ancestors.
My wife and I have been happily married for 52 years. Our relationship and family has been enriched by living the principles of the Gospel. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is family centered and as we apply the principles we are taught contention is minimized or eliminated and love and harmony are enhanced. We have been blessed with eight handsome sons and five beautiful daughters. Each has done well in their own right and we enjoy learning about their accomplishments and associating with our family. We always enjoy family gatherings.

Why I am a Mormon

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I have studied many religions, churches and ways of life. But as I try to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ I find happiness and peace that I have found nowhere else and in no other way. Here I find answers to my questions and the courage and strength to help me to overcome the problems and challenges of life.
Jesus said, ask and ye shall receive, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you (Matt 7:7-8). James said to ask of God (James 1:5-6). I have studied, and learned, I have tried to do as the Lord taught (John 7:17) and asked as Jesus directed. In answer to my efforts and my prayers the Lord through the Holy Ghost has given me a testimony (or a knowledge) of the truth just as he did Peter and Paul and the apostles. I know that it is true.
I know that God, our Heavenly Father, lives and loves us. I know that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. I know that they direct us today through the scriptures and living prophets. Likewise, I know that the Book of Mormon is another witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that it (like the Bible) contains the word of God. I know that through the Prophet Joseph Smith it was given to us and translated by the gift and power of God.
The happiness, the joy, the peace and the great blessings I have received, and the knowledge given to me by the Spirit of the Lord is why I am a Mormon.

How I live my faith

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We (my wife and I) have tried to make the Lord and His teachings the center of our lives. I try to live like Jesus taught us to live. When I make His teachings and the teachings of the prophets of God a part of my life I find the greater peace and happiness that the Lord promises. I have found that when I follow the teachings of the Lord I find true and lasting joy and not just temporary pleasure or fleeting thrills.
I love to read the scriptures. I read them often as the Lord counseled us to do. I find that I gain great understanding, peace and increased power to do what I should as I read and study the scriptures. I try to practice a regular scripture study program that helps me to read the scriptures on a daily basis.
Attending church helps me. At church I learn from others, become strengthened by their experiences, learn more of the Lord and His Gospel and am able to help and strengthen others.
I like to find opportunities to help and serve others. It brings me happiness to see others benefit from the small things that we can do. I enjoy working at the church cannery where we produce goods to help those who are in need. I like to volunteer my time at the storehouse where many of these goods are distributed. I find satisfaction in visiting the home bound, those who are sick or in the hospital and in simply encouraging others to do what is right.
I like to volunteer for and work on service projects and help with relief efforts. When I am involved in helping others I am happy.
I pray often. I find help and peace in the ability to communicate with my Father in Heaven. I have come to know that He truly loves us and wants to help us to be happy.
I find that recognizing the blessings of the Lord in my life and the lives of my family and thanking the Lord for his bounteous blessings brings me happiness.
I try to live my faith by doing as James directs (James chapter 2) and demonstrating my faith through trying to be like our great example, The Lord Jesus Christ.

This biologist uses the scientific method every day in his professional life, but in his personal life, Kevin Livingstone relies on a different set of tools for answering big questions about life on earth.